Chapter 10 First Encounter

In this world, this was the first time she had stepped out of the manor of the prime minister.

During the journey, she could not stop herself and pulled up the curtain to have a look on the outside.

The Big Madam coughed lightly: "Ah Luo, your Ah Die had said that when you go out from the house, you need to pay attention to your image and status as a young mistress from a big household. You are not allowed to embarrass us today. If not, you will be punished according to the family's rule. Look at Ah Lei and Ah Fei... and look at yourself. This mum of yours really... cannot change her temperament and now have passed it to her daughter!"

Ah Luo was enraged in her heart. Thus, she kept back her curiosity and sat seriously. She was thinking in her heart.

'Just you wait. One day when I am capable enough, I will abduct my beautiful Ah Niang and move out from the manor of the prime minister!'

The horse carriage had headed towards the east and only stopped when it was about four hours journey. Under the scrutinizing gaze of the Big Madam, the three of them had sat down in a proper manner. Qingluo thought that she was practising yoga. When she was getting off from the carriage, her feet were numb and lacked blood flow. She had no idea how did Qinglei and Qingfei had practice it as both of them was making light pace and fluttered down the carriage smoothly like butterflies.

When Ah Luo got down, due to the constant hiding in the square like wall and sky, she was mesmerized with the open space currently in front of her.

'How good to be freedom ah! When will I get the chance to gain freedom and have a voyage?'

The Emerald's Manor owned by the Princess of Defense Ministry was built on the top of a mountain. From afar, she could see there were giant trees towered around the forest and there was a strong and mighty pink brick wall. Ah Luo sighed deeply,

'No matter where I go in this world, everyone leaves in a villa.'

After entering the main gate, there was a small bridge and it led them inside. After walking for an hour, there was a vast pink colour valley in front of them where the land was flat and the stream water was shallow. It was a mesmerizing half man-made and half natural peach blossom forest. There will be some flower petals floating on the water from time to time. The smell of it was intoxicatingly drunk.

Ah Luo sighed again.

'An unpolluted peach forest paradise ah!'

The news of the arrival of the Li Prime Minister's Martriach had gained a heartfelt welcoming from the Princess of Defense Ministry. After both parties gave greeted each other and sat down, the princess had commented: "It was heard that Li Prime Minister has two daughters who are top-notch in Feng city and are as beautiful as fairies. Come over and let me have a good look."

The Big Madam immediately asked Qinglei and Qingfei to come forward.

Qingluo had a peek on Princess Huguo. She was dressed in a simple fashion yet dignified, around her thirties and looked generous and noble. Her temperament was cultivated since young. When she looked around, this empty land was set up with two awning roofs that formed two gazebos. The gazebos were decorated with translucent veils and the length of the veils fell on to the ground just nice. The two separated gazebos were for guests use. The only difference was the veils of the gazebo for female guests were let down completely. There was a lot of Furens and young maidens. All of them were dressed up in an exquisite fashion as it was obvious all of them had put in efforts.

Qingluo smiled internally. It was great that it was windy today. When the wind blows, the veils will be lifted up, the appearances of the maidens will be undoubtedly exposed. Those young masters who were sitting seriously gradually extended their necks and look here and there to spot on attractive beautiful maidens.

After a while, the Big Madam who was having a vigorous complexion as if there were two little tomatoes on her cheek came back to their own place. Qingluo was very curious and hence, she pestered Qingfei to ask about what did the Princess Huguo had said.

Qingfei had a teasing expression. The Big Madam opened her mouth: The princess likes Qinglei and Qingfei a lot. She said that she will invite the crown prince the fourth prince to send over some flower later.

As she said, she pointed towards the gazebo opposite of them: "That is the crown prince's gazebo. The next one belongs to the fourth prince.

She continued in a softer voice: "On the left of us, it is the Gu Xiang household and the right of us is the Wang Taiwei household. I heard that Miss Zilin and Miss Yu Yan also had arrived a long time ago."

After listening to Big Madam's word, Qinglei and Qingfei can't help but peek over the opposite tent and found that there was nobody. Hence they looked left and right and found a few maidens but can't see their faces as the veils were fluttering. It was disappointed yet also exciting. Qingluo beamed brightly and chuckled: "Daniang, Ah Luo will go and spy on some information, can I?

The Big Madam hesitated a little: "What if you got exposed and it will make us looked rude. What will we do? You are also a young miss from the household of prime minister."

Qingluo beamed and said: "Daniang, it is still an unknown for others that I am the third miss of Li household right? Everyone is focusing on Dajie and Erjie. Just say that I am the servant of the household. Look at me, don't I look like one too?"

The Big Madam had a flash in her eyes: This is good too. It is true that nobody knew the third miss had come to attend this banquet too. It is still hard to say if people even know about the existence of the third miss of Li household as well. You go and have a look, check up the two maidens' appearance and listens to what the other had to say."

The Big Madam also let her servant, Juan Er to follow.

"You go together with San Xiaojie, do not create any ruckus or problem."

Juan Er nodded head. Ah Luo beamed at the two sisters of hers and spoke softly: "Jiejie do not be fret, Ah Luo will come back very fast."

She then walked out with Juan Er, out of the tent and headed to the peach forest with a basket. As a tradition of the banquet, Princess Huguo allowed the guests to pick the flowers as they wished. If anyone has come to like a certain person, they can create a poem and send along with the flowers. It was for everyone to have fun.

If there was somebody who did not get any flower, the people inside the gazebo can console each other by giving each other flower as well. Hence there was no embarrassment. Females can also give flowers around. It was a polite exchange.

Qingluo was obviously a person who was sent by the matriarch Li to gather information on the daughter of Wang Taiwei and Miss Yan Hui under the mission of 'picking flowers'. Of course, she will also pass by the male gazebo and spy around as well.

After they entered the peach forest, Qingluo felt relaxed just like she had gone back to nature. She enjoyed the pinkish scenery, how the grasses shadowed over, and the fragrance of the stream water. She spoke to Juan Er: "It is really beautiful here!"

Juan Er was only thirteen years old and it was the age of being playful. Hence, she followed Qingluo to enjoy the scenery and admire the flowers. They slowly went further from the crowd. She did not know how long had they been walking and when she looked back, she could not see the gazebo anymore. They were now surrounded by trees and flowers and she was panicked.

"San Xiaojie, are we lost?"

While being too excited, Qingluo was in dazed as when she looked back, the trees and flowers all looked the same.

Which was the direction to the gazebos?

She had no idea as well. "Juan Er, this is bad. We will be scolded by Daniang of we go back late. Which direction did we come from?"

Juan Er looked so bitter and she could not answer that. Qingluo looked over the shadow of the sunlight and continued to search after her memory. She thought of the scenery at the gazebo and guided Juan Er to walk towards the north-west. After walking for a while, Qingluo was really excited: "Juan Er, look at that. That is the resting place!"

The two of them rushed towards the direction which was filled with white sand. It was not far from them. However, the water stream infront of them had widened. Qingluo picked up a dry wooden stick and measured the water depth. It was until her thigh. If they continued to search for another route, it will be too late by that time. Hence, Qingluo looked at her surrounding. It was very quiet. The sounds and voice of laughter can be heard from the gazebo over the stream. She decisively began to remove her shoes and socks and rolled up her trousers.

"Juan Er, fast! Now there is nobody. Hurry up. If anyone sees us, we will be in trouble!"

Juan Er was anxious and she wanted to cry. Looking at Qingluo who already inside the water raised up her hand to hold her, she followed on how Qing Luo removed everything, put the basked on top of her head, and took her hand. They walked through step by step. When they almost reached the shore, Juan Er accidentally stepped on a rock and cut her feet. Her body shook and it caused the basket which contained her socks and shoes to fall into the water. She shouted: " The basket!"

Qingluo released Juan Er's hand and walked over to fish back the basket. Once she got the basket, she slipped and lost her balance. When she almost fell into the water, it was not sure where did a figure flew over and hugged her. He then pulled Qingluo up from the water.

Qingluo screamed silently and the next moment, her feet landed on the shore. Qingluo was in shocked, widened her eyes and glared at the person in front of her. It was a clean looking tall young man smiling at her. Qingluo blushed and lowered her head immediately. She saw her bare thighs and feet and got angry.

"Turn around, this Guniang here wants to wear my shoes!"

That person had realized he lost his manners. So he turned his body. Qingluo saw that his back was shuddering non-stop. It seemed like he was laughing at her so she got angrier. Juan Er walked up and both of them tidied up themselves. Qingluo then spoke slowly to that person: "Just now, thanks to you. Please do not turn back, we are not done yet. Actually, I had to thank you sincerely. However..."

Qingluo switched her tone: "Who asked your eyes to dart randomly?"

When she finished her words, Qingluo took a move. That person did not expect that the girl who almost fell into the water knew some moves, and it was a nimble one. He was almost pushed into the water and half of his sleeve was wet. He then dragged his body and rolled over to the opposite shore.

Qingluo was in dazed.

'This person practised the legendary martial arts!'

She then pulled Juan Er and flee away frantically.

That person stabilized his body, looked at the two maidens who were stumbling all the way while holding the basket and he laughed. He flipped his sleeves.

'Which family had raised such a mischievous maiden!'

'As long as you are at this banquet, I will get to find you!'

.........................

Furen= madam, wives

Ah Die= father

Ah Niang= mother

Daniang= big mother(normally for household who had many wives and the children address the main wife as this)

Guniang= maiden

Princess Huguo= Princess of Defense Ministry